Tiffany Meeks' path to graduation seemingly hit a dead end. She had to balance working a part-time job, then later a full-time job, while also attending college classes and managing her daughter's schedule.
"I was facing a lot of life challenges. One of the things I knew for sure is that I wanted to complete school," Meeks said. It wasn't until she found support through the Jeremiah Program that she began to see a way forward.
"Jeremiah was the turning point, I believe, in my trajectory because it provided a safe place for me and my daughter to live," said Meeks, who gave birth to her daughter, Natalie, while a freshman and graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2000. The Jeremiah Program, which focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty through a two-generational approach, played a crucial role in helping Meeks navigate the complex demands of school, work and parenthood.
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education recently announced the recipients of its $5.3 million statewide 2024 Student Parent Support Initiative (SPSI) grants. The Jeremiah Program, SPSI's top recipient, was awarded $1.7 million -- enough to fund the program's expenses for the next two years. This funding will help address the unique challenges faced by Black student parents, who often encounter systemic barriers to education, economic stability, and long-term success. SPSI passed the state legislature in 2023 and was signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz.
Racial disparities in education and economic mobility continue to hinder progress for Black communities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and limiting upward mobility. A 2023 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine underscores that children born into families living below the poverty line are more likely to remain in low-income households as adults.
Black children have a 37% likelihood of experiencing persistent poverty into adulthood -- compared to 34% for white children. These disparities are a stark reminder of the systemic challenges Black families face, particularly in areas like housing, employment, and wealth accumulation, where the gaps between Black and white communities are substantial.
The funding provided through the SPSI is a critical step in addressing these disparities by providing financial assistance, mentorship and community for student parents.
Karla Benson Rutten, executive director of the Jeremiah Program in St. Paul, emphasized the program's focus on supporting Black and other marginalized student parents. "At least 85% of our families identify as BIPOC, with the vast majority being Black," Benson Rutten said.
"The disparities in housing, jobs and salaries in the Twin Cities disproportionately affect these families. This grant allows us to continue supporting them on their journey out of generational poverty, moving them toward the building of generational wealth through education."
Ally Hanten Ebert, executive director of the Jeremiah Program's Rochester campus, emphasized the importance of diversified funding to ensure sustainability. "We want to make sure our funding is super diversified so we're never over-reliant on one source."
St. Catherine University also received $181,470 from the SPSI to support pregnant and parenting students. Beth Hamer, director of the Access and Success program at St. Kate's, emphasized how the funding will help Black student parents overcome the additional financial and systemic challenges they face.
"We know that when Black student parents feel welcomed and supported, their academic performance improves. This funding will help reduce financial stress and increase a sense of belonging for these students, particularly those from underserved communities," Hamer said.
In 2022, Access and Success evaluated its operations and programming. One key conclusion: BIPOC student parents who had stronger relationships with social workers were more likely to graduate than those who did not.
St. Kate's Access and Success program has long been at the forefront of supporting student parents, offering services like childcare assistance, emergency grants, and legal aid. These resources are essential in helping Black student parents persist in their educational journey, where systemic barriers can often derail progress.
"Last academic year, 25% of the student parents we worked with identified as Black or African American," Hamer said. "We hope to see an increase in the utilization of services funded by this grant, especially among students of color."
The new funding will also expand services that focus on mental health support, legal aid, and child care assistance, directly addressing the unique challenges faced by Black student parents. "With this funding we aim to strengthen degree completion rates among Black student parents, offering them the tools and support they need to overcome systemic obstacles, "Hamer said.
For pregnant and new mothers, St. Kate's will partner with the Redleaf Center Mother-Baby Program, which offers outpatient mental health and parenting support for individuals during pregnancy and the parenting of children ages 0-5 years. Access and Success social workers are trained to screen student parents for public benefits, ensuring they can access other financial resources they may be eligible for.
Susan Warfield, director of the University of Minnesota's Student Parent Help Center, also emphasized the impact of emergency funding for Black students. "Emergency funding is awarded based on need and urgency. In compliance with federal guidelines, factors such as student demographics, including race, are not considered in the awarding process," Warfield said.
"Last year, the majority of emergency grants provided were given to BIPOC students. These grants impact students in really positive ways, allowing them to continue pursuing their education at the University of Minnesota."
For Black student parents, this funding represents more than just financial assistance: These grants offer crucial support to families who are striving to overcome the compounded challenges of education, parenting, and systemic racism.